Connection
“Spirituality is recognizing and celebrating that we are all inextricably connected to each other by a power greater than all of us, and that our connection to that power and to one another is grounded in love and compassion. Practicing spirituality brings a sense of perspective, meaning, and purpose to our lives.”
Image Credit @marcospradobr
I grew up in a family that valued a religious affiliation. I spent most of my life in church-related activities as a young person and for much of my adult life. Many of those experiences were positive; some were hurtful.
As a child, I never remember my parents talking “religious talk,” meaning I never heard them quote scripture or use religious language. They felt it wasn’t necessary because their lives exuded the essence of their Christian faith, which included honesty, respect, kindness, hard work, compassion, generosity, and inclusiveness. They didn’t see a need to “talk the talk” because they “walked the walk.”
One of the valuable lessons I learned growing up in rural America in the 50s and 60s was respect for those who didn’t “look like us.” There wasn’t much opportunity to practice that lesson because there was only one black family in our county. As the president of a small business in the community, my dad related to everyone equally and respectfully, whether it was the wealthy farmer, the minority family, or the mentally challenged man who loved to stop by to visit. My parents grasped the significance of applying their faith principles or spiritual experiences to everyday life, including valuing diversity because everyone was welcome in our home. For them, spirituality was not an abstract concept but a daily practice of connection.
Bestselling author Dayna Mason, in her blog post, “Can Belief in a Higher Power Benefit You?” describes a study published in Cerebral Cortex that found spiritual experiences (defined as connection with something greater than the self) activate a specific part of the brain that buffers the effects of stress, which could explain why some studies find that people with a spiritual practice are healthier, happier, and live longer.
Dayna ends her post: “Spirituality is a universal human experience and still mostly a mystery to us. But however we choose to define it, it should inspire us and provide solace, guidance, strength, and hope. Whether we connect with something outside of our immediate material experience by attending a church service, or taking a walk in nature, a practice of consciously letting go and giving in to something bigger, moments of realizing that we don’t need to do anything, has proved to be beneficial to our overall wellbeing.”
Brené Brown says spirituality means we are connected to one another by a power greater than all of us (God, Spirit, Universe, Nature, etc.) and that our connection is grounded in love and compassion. Spirituality provides a sense of perspective, enables one to find meaning and purpose, and allows me to mirror and implement the values I learned years ago: honesty, respect, kindness, hard work, compassion, generosity, and inclusiveness.
Whatever one’s faith tradition or spiritual practice, my wish for all of us, especially this time of year, is to find connection, well-being, and peace.